Method and apparatus for testing a processing web

ABSTRACT

A photographic processing web imbiber and method for imbibing in which the web is wound from a first reel to a second reel through a fluid-soaking bath in loose enough winds to allow the liquid to continue being absorbed by the web while wound on the reel and having a final wind tight enough to squeegee out the liquid phases of materials in the final wind.

United States Patent Merrick 5] Mar. 14, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR 1,598,627 9/1926 Voegeli ..68/180 X TESTING A PROCESSING WEB2,252,659 8/ 1941 Kenyon... ..68/ 180 2,256,227 9/1941 Zaccheo....118/419 X [72] Inventors: Edward V. Merrick, San Jose, William L.3,093,052 6/1963 Burner et a1. ..95/94 Ahrens, Sunnyvale, both of lif.3,179,517 4/1965 Tregillus et a1. ..95/89 X [73] Assignees: MarkSystems, Inc, Santa Clara, Calif.

- Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant ExaminerFred L. Braun[22] Filed: July 21, 1966 AttorneyTownsend and Townsend [21] Ap'pl. No.:566,971 [57] ABSTRACT A A photographic processing web imbiber and methodfor im- [52] US. Cl ..95/90.5 hihing in which the web is wound f a fi td to a second he. Cl. ee] through a fluidoaking bath in loose enoughwinds to g [58] Fleld 0 Search ..95/89, 90.5, 94; 118/419; allow theliquid to continue being absorbed by the web while 8/1 0; 261/30; 6/ 63wound on the reel and having a final wind tight enough to squeegee outthe liquid phases of materials in the final wind. [56] References Citedse -sw m F s res UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,278 4/1916 Uh] "95/905METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING A PROCESSING WEB This invention relatesto a machine for and method of impregnating Bimat transfer film withprocessing solution.

The Bimat film process currently distributed by Eastman Kodak involves asystem in which a photographic film is exposed in the conventionalmanner in conventional photographic cameras and thereafter the film isplaced in face to face contact with a film or processing web called amat impregnated with a processing solution. The result upon separatingthe mat and the film is in a processed negative image on the film and aprocessed positive image on the mat. As distributed, the mat is in a dryform and is normally imbibed or presoaked in processing solution shortlyprior to its use in processing. The presoaking or imbibing of the matshortly be fore the processing is necessitated by the relatively shortshelf life of the presoaked mat material. The imbibing or presoaking ofmat material must be accomplished under controlled, fixed, physicalconditions but can normally be accomplished under ambient light. Thecontrols required necessitate the control of temperature, the amount andconcentration of solution, the timing at various phases and for theapplication of hardener and control of tightness of wind of the mat inthe final wind. Variations in the controls result in eitherunsatisfactory or irregular processing.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofand means for presoaking the processing web or mat film in such a manneras to provide an imbibed mat which has uniformity of processing solutionimpregnation of requisite hardness and is wound in a manner on the reelwhich will resist damage during storage.

In the present invention, the dry mat film is passed between horizontalreels through a processing solution bath in which the various passesthrough the bath from one reel to the other is accomplished with a loosewind on the takeup spool, except on the final wind which is accomplishedwith a tight wind.

As a further control in the present invention, the temperature of theprocessing solution is regulated for optimum pickup during passes of thefilm through the processing solution and on the last pass thetemperature is reduced to prevent thermal contraction of the convolutesin the final wind. As a still further control, the speed of the winds issufficiently rapid to cause the majority of processing mat interactionto occur on the spool while wound in the helical configuration. In stillanother control in the process, the hardener which functions to hardenthe mat emulsion is applied with such rapidity that the hardening actiondoes not occur until the film has been tightly wound onto the finaltakeup spool.

One feature and advantage of this invention lies in the fact that themat material picks up the liquid processing solution in the bath fordelivery to the convolutes due to the loose wind of the reel duringtakeup to prevent squeegeeing action of the processing solution duringthe winding phase.

A further feature and advantage of this invention lies in the fact thatthe device is operated at sufficient speed so that the time that the matfilm remains in the solution is kept at a minimum, thereby causing thevast majority of physical and chemical interaction on the mat to takeplace primarily on the reel rather than in the solution bath.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reel arrangementin which the reels are maintained in a horizontal position to preventaccumulation of processing solution from migrating to one edge of therolled mat film.

In the present invention, the last pass of the film through theprocessing solution is accomplished with a chemical hardener being addedto the processing solution and with the temperature of the processingsolution being lowered to at least below the ambient temperatureconditions under which the mat material is to be used or stored. Underthese conditions, the mat is driven rapidly and under controlled tensionfrom the supply to the takeup reel through the bath. The aforesaidmethod and apparatus affords the advantage of causing liquid phaseprocessing solution to be squeezed from the reel as it is being woundand further causes additional liquid phase processing solution to beabsorbed by the mat while on the tightly wound convolutes of the takeupreel before the action of the hardener is realized.

A still further feature and advantage of the method and process aboveset forth lies in the fact that the final bath is maintained at lower ornear ambient storage or processing temperature conditions to preventthermal contraction.

Because of the aforesaid features and advantages, there is a substantialreduction of dry spots which otherwise occur in other methods ofimbibing.

As a further feature and advantage of this invention, the structureafforded is adaptable to operate with a relatively low volume ofprocessing solution so that not only can the quantity of chemicalsemployed be conserved but also relatively low volumetric capacityaffords an easier media for control of the temperature conditions of thesolution.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will bemore apparent after referring to the following specification andattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the apparatus for imbibing the matfilm;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the matmaterial being loosely wound during imbibing;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the mat material being tightly woundduring imbibing;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing convolutes of a mat having spatialareas due to improper imbibing; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the inventionshowing the imbibing apparatus in which the tank is vertical rather thanhorizontal.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a Bimat presoaker orimbibing apparatus generally indicated at A having a horizontallydisposed solution tank B. Mat spindles 20 and 21 are mounted forrotation horizontally over tank B by bearings 24 and 25 which are drivenby motors 26 and 27 respectively for rotation of the spindlesselectively in opposite directions.

Photographic mat material of the Bimat type is mounted for passagebetween reel 30 on spindle 20 and reel 31 on spindle 21 with the matpassing over two idler rollers 33 and 34 mounted in tank B. The rollersestablish a straight stretch 35 of mat material which passes through thesolution in tank B between the two rollers 33 and 34 as the mat istransferred from reel 30 to reel 31 and vice versa. Rollers 33 and 34are also mounted on bearings to render them as free of friction aspossible.

Processing solution is entered and withdrawn from tank B via twoconduits 36 and 37 mounted at one end of the tank.

The bottom portion of the tank is formed with a heating and coolingstructure 40 which is controlled to provide predetermined temperaturesby a temperature controller 41. The heating-cooling unit 40 may take theform of a single or composite unit which may on the one hand include anelectrical heating unit and companion refrigeration coils or may simplyconsist of thermoelectric units which are capable of both raising orlowering the temperature in proportion to the power or polarity of theelectrical input into the heating-cooling unit.

Mat C conventionally can be of the dry Kodak transfer film (Estar Base)Type -1 11 or 80-160 which normally are available in dry states. Such,films when properly soaked with processing solution are then ready forprocessing by combining the mat material with film.

Dry unsoaked Bimat, as distributed, can be stored for long periods.After presoaking, as is accomplished in the present invention, there isa limited shelf life; therefore, in normal practice, the mat material issoaked shortly prior to intended use.

In operation, a reel of mat material is mounted on spindle 20 and thenthreaded around idler rollers 33 and 34 for at tachment to spindle 21 toform the two spools or reels 30 and 31. The processing solution is thenadded through conduit 36 into tank B at a liquid level which issubstantially above film stretch 35 so that the entire stretch issubmerged in the processing solution. Temperature controller 41 isemployed to raise the temperature of the solution to the optimaltemperature for creating adequate imbibing action with the mat which isusually in the range of between 90 to l l F. Under these conditions, thefilm is transported from reel 30 to 31 at speeds ranging an average of25 to 175 feet per minute. Thereafter, the mat in reel 31 is transferredback to reel 30 at the same speed. The respective transfer between thetwo reels is then repeated several times until adequate absorption ofthe processing solution in the mat is accomplished.

In the final wind, the temperature through temperature cooling unit 40and the control of temperature controller 41 is dropped to a levelapproximately equal to the temperature at which it is intended that thesoaked mat material be stored. A hardener is added to the processingsolution for the last pass. It is important in the present inventionthat during all except the last pass that the transfer of the mat fromthe supply of the two reels to the takeup be under conditions of minimumimpedance so that the mat will be in as loose convolutes on the takeupreel as possible. i

The film traveling at relatively high velocities for a relatively shortlength through the processing solution will result in the liquid phaseprocessing solution being carried by the mat onto the takeup reel.Because of the loose wind effected by low impedance or drag, there isminimal squeegeeing or compressive elimination of the liquid phaseddeveloper as the film is wound onto the takeup reel. Thus, the soakingor absorption of the processing solution onto the film or mat occursmainly while the mat is wound in convolutes on the takeup reel. Thepassage through the processing solution functions mainly to createpickup of liquid phase processing solution and the looseness of windfunctions to maintain the liquid phase processing solution on the matwhile it is being wound onto its respective convolutes. Mechanically,the aforesaid configuration is accomplished by providing bearings 24 and25 of sufficiently frictionally free construction to allow minimum drag.This is also true of the two idler rollers 33 and 34. Alternatively, thesame can be accomplished by establishing a powered overdrive for thesupply of the two reels through energization of motors 26 or 27.

By accomplishing the combination of the steps in this manner, the amountof processing solution carried to the convolutes remains consistentthrough each pass. The processing solution absorbed by the mat is notthe result of absorptive activity while the mat material is in transitthrough the processing solution bath but is rather the result ofabsorptive activity while the mat is spooled.

it is also noted that the reels are mounted in a horizontal position andby virtue of the horizontal placement the flow of liquid phaseprocessing solution in the convolutes is maintained constant throughoutthe mat in that there is no gravity urging of the fluid towards one endor the other which would occur if the reels were mounted for verticalrotation.

In the final wind, as has been previously explained, the supply of thetwo reels is supplied with sufficient brakeage or resistance to provideconsiderable tension and stress for the winding onto the takeup of thetwo reels. Under these conditions, as can be seen in FIG. 3, thepressure of the outer convolutes causes liquid phased processingsolution to be squeegeed out of the mat as it is being rolled onto thereel. This is important in that in the final phase it is desirable tohave both a tight and a nonliquid phase condition. Should there be thepresence of liquid phase in the finally wound reel, there is likelihoodthat evaporation of unabsorbed liquid phase processing solution willresult in bubbles or gaps as indicated at 48 in H0. 4. Such gaps willundesirably affect processing when eventually combined with photographicfilm.

The tension afforded on the final wind can be accomplished by providinga brake mechanism for the supply spindle or, al-

ternatively, the respective motor drive for the supply spindle I can beback driven.

Hardener is added on the last pass. The hardener action when culminatedhardens the emulsion which inhibits further absorption of liquid onto orintothe mat. By running the mat swiftly through the combinationprocessing solution and hardener, it can be seen that the wind onto thefinal takeup spool or reel occurs prior to the chemical hardeningactivity taking place. Thus, any liquid phase remaining in the finalwind can be absorbed while the mat is in tightly wound relation andprior to the time that the hardening action sets up to provide anabsorption inhibitant. I

As has previously been explained, the'temperature on the final pass isdropped to the proposed storagetemperature of the mat material. This isimportant to provide a preconditioning of the so'aked mat to atemperature commensurate to the ambient temperatures at which the mat isto be stored. It has been found-that if the soaked mat is substantiallylowered in temperature after being imbibed, air pockets 48 of the typeshown in FIG. 4 may develop. it is reasoned that this occurs because ofthermal shrinkage of the mat under lower temperature conditions. Thus,maintaining the final passage ofthe mat through the processing solutionunder temperature conditions which are as low as or near the temperaturefor storing, the mat will result in superior mat imbibing.

As an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism canbe arranged as shown in FIG. 5 in which a supply reel 60 is, arranged topass mat C vertically around a guide spindle 61 to a takeup spindle 62.Spindles 60 and. 62 can altematively, as in the. preceding embodiment,be employed as takeup and supply spindles and are provided withappropriate friction free bearings and power drive units as disclosedabove in reference to FlG.-1. A heating ,and cooling 1. A mechanism forsoaking a photographic processing web I comprising a pair ofspaced-apart, horizontally. mounted spindles adapted to function as hubsfor a photographic processing web and on which a photographic processingweb is mounted to extend between the spindles, means for driving atleast one of said spindlesfor rotation at a controlledrate, bearingmeans for rotatably mounting at least the other of said spindles forsubstantially friction free rotation, a liquid bath of photo-. graphicprocessing solution mounted below said spindles, means to guide said.web wound on one of said spindles through said bath to the other of saidspindles for coiling of the web only about itself on the other spindle,said guide means including means providing a minimum of frictionalimpedance to the web, the combined frictional impedance of the bearingmeans and theguide means being low enough to cause coiled convolutesresulting from winding the web on the drive spindle to be sufficientlyloose to enable the liquid from the liquid bath carried by the web to beretained between adjacent convolutes without being substantiallysqueezed therefrom.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 and wherein said drive means aremounted to each of said spindles and wherein free rotatable bearingmeans are similarly mounted with each of said spindles, said drive meansand said bearing means being alternatively engageable with each of saidspindles to allow the web to be freely transported to and frobetweensaid spindles with the supply of the two spindles beingsubstantially, frictionallyfree to rotate and the takeup of the twospindles being driven by the drive means.

3. Apparatus for subjecting a photographic processing web to a liquidsolution for a predetermined length of time comprising: first and secondhubs mounted in. spaced relation and adapted to be in respectiveengagement with a length of said web only for movement of the webtherebetween at a predetermined speed; low friction bearing means formounting at least the first hub, the low friction bearing means enablinga substantial friction free rotation of the hub to maintain said webreeled off the first hub substantially tension free; a bath holding thesolution; low friction guide means intermediate the hubs guiding the webthrough the bath for applying the liquid solution to the web, the guidemeans being arranged so that the web moving at the predetermined speedcontacts the solution in the bath for less than the predetermined lengthof time, the guide means being further selected to maintain the webdownstream of the guide means substantially tension free; and drivemeans operatively coupled to the second hub for winding said web onlyafter immersion of the web in the bath on the second hub in looseconvolutes forming spaces between adjacent convolutes retaining solutiontherein contacting the web, to thus soak the web for the predeterminedtime while loosely wound and removed from the bath.

4. A method for soaking a photographic processing web in a photographicprocessing solution for a predetermined time period during a treatmentphase, the method comprising the steps: reeling the processing web off afirst spindle while maintaining the reeled off web substantially tensionfree; guiding the reeled off web over substantially frictionless guidemeans through a solution bath so that the web reeled off the firstspindle and disposed in the solution is substantially tension free;retaining the web in the bath for a time period shorter than thepredetermined time period; and winding the soaked web only about itselfonto a second spindle in loose convolutes while photographic processingsolution is carried on the web to retain photographic processingsolution between adjacent convolutes of the coiled film on the secondspindle and soak the web in the solution for the predetermined timeperiod while the web is coiled and removed from the bath.

5. A method for soaking a processing web according to claim 4 and havinga second treatment phase including the further step of passing the webthrough the solution and then immediately winding the web onto one ofthe two spindles under sufiicient tension to cause a squeegeeing out ofa substantial portion of the photographic processing solution as the webis wound on the spindle.

6. A method for soaking processing web according to claim 5 having thesteps of regulating said solution to a temperature for efficientabsorption during said first mentioned treatment phase and cooling saidsolution to a temperature at least below the temperature at which theweb is to be subsequently stored prior to execution of the secondtreatment phase.

7. A method for soaking a processing web according to claim 5 having thestep of cooling said solution to a temperature at least below thetemperature at which the web is to be subsequently stored prior toexecution of the second treatment phase.

8. A method for soaking a processing web according to claim 5 and havingthe steps of adding a hardener to said solution only during said secondtreatment phase.

1. A mechanism for soaking a photographic processing web comprising apair of spaced-apart, horizontally mounted spindles adapteD to functionas hubs for a photographic processing web and on which a photographicprocessing web is mounted to extend between the spindles, means fordriving at least one of said spindles for rotation at a controlled rate,bearing means for rotatably mounting at least the other of said spindlesfor substantially friction free rotation, a liquid bath of photographicprocessing solution mounted below said spindles, means to guide said webwound on one of said spindles through said bath to the other of saidspindles for coiling of the web only about itself on the other spindle,said guide means including means providing a minimum of frictionalimpedance to the web, the combined frictional impedance of the bearingmeans and the guide means being low enough to cause coiled convolutesresulting from winding the web on the drive spindle to be sufficientlyloose to enable the liquid from the liquid bath carried by the web to beretained between adjacent convolutes without being substantiallysqueezed therefrom.
 2. The mechanism according to claim 1 and whereinsaid drive means are mounted to each of said spindles and wherein freerotatable bearing means are similarly mounted with each of saidspindles, said drive means and said bearing means being alternativelyengageable with each of said spindles to allow the web to be freelytransported to and fro between said spindles with the supply of the twospindles being substantially, frictionally free to rotate and the takeupof the two spindles being driven by the drive means.
 3. Apparatus forsubjecting a photographic processing web to a liquid solution for apredetermined length of time comprising: first and second hubs mountedin spaced relation and adapted to be in respective engagement with alength of said web only for movement of the web therebetween at apredetermined speed; low friction bearing means for mounting at leastthe first hub, the low friction bearing means enabling a substantialfriction free rotation of the hub to maintain said web reeled off thefirst hub substantially tension free; a bath holding the solution; lowfriction guide means intermediate the hubs guiding the web through thebath for applying the liquid solution to the web, the guide means beingarranged so that the web moving at the predetermined speed contacts thesolution in the bath for less than the predetermined length of time, theguide means being further selected to maintain the web downstream of theguide means substantially tension free; and drive means operativelycoupled to the second hub for winding said web only after immersion ofthe web in the bath on the second hub in loose convolutes forming spacesbetween adjacent convolutes retaining solution therein contacting theweb, to thus soak the web for the predetermined time while loosely woundand removed from the bath.
 4. A method for soaking a photographicprocessing web in a photographic processing solution for a predeterminedtime period during a treatment phase, the method comprising the steps:reeling the processing web off a first spindle while maintaining thereeled off web substantially tension free; guiding the reeled off webover substantially frictionless guide means through a solution bath sothat the web reeled off the first spindle and disposed in the solutionis substantially tension free; retaining the web in the bath for a timeperiod shorter than the predetermined time period; and winding thesoaked web only about itself onto a second spindle in loose convoluteswhile photographic processing solution is carried on the web to retainphotographic processing solution between adjacent convolutes of thecoiled film on the second spindle and soak the web in the solution forthe predetermined time period while the web is coiled and removed fromthe bath.
 5. A method for soaking a processing web according to claim 4and having a second treatment phase including the further step ofpassing the web through the solution and then immediately winding theweb onto one of thE two spindles under sufficient tension to cause asqueegeeing out of a substantial portion of the photographic processingsolution as the web is wound on the spindle.
 6. A method for soaking aprocessing web according to claim 5 having the steps of regulating saidsolution to a temperature for efficient absorption during said firstmentioned treatment phase and cooling said solution to a temperature atleast below the temperature at which the web is to be subsequentlystored prior to execution of the second treatment phase.
 7. A method forsoaking a processing web according to claim 5 having the step of coolingsaid solution to a temperature at least below the temperature at whichthe web is to be subsequently stored prior to execution of the secondtreatment phase.
 8. A method for soaking a processing web according toclaim 5 and having the steps of adding a hardener to said solution onlyduring said second treatment phase.